She lost a grandson and dozens of guinea pigs in a devastating house fire in 2019. Years later, Kimie Smothermon is running a Massachusetts sanctuary where hundreds of guinea pigs now depend on her every day. At the Guinea Pig Sanctuary in Salisbury, between 350 and 400 guinea pigs are housed at the facility, with many more living in foster and hospice homes. What began as a family effort to help abandoned guinea pigs grew into a full-time rescue operation after Smothermon’s grandson Alex developed a bond with the animals. Today, volunteers clean cages, care for sick animals and help find suitable homes for guinea pigs surrendered by owners who can no longer look after them.
Massachusetts sanctuary is filled with hundreds of guinea pigs
Smothermon’s sanctuary in Salisbury, about 40 miles north of Boston, operates from a converted office space where cages are stacked from floor to ceiling. The facility can house roughly 350 to 400 guinea pigs at a time. Volunteers move between the cages throughout the day, cleaning them, checking on sick animals and providing food and care. Each guinea pig has a name and its own personality. Some are friendly and affectionate, while others are shy or energetic. The sanctuary is also supported by a wider network of foster and hospice homes, with the organisation saying more than 1,000 guinea pigs are currently in those homes.The rescue began with Smothermon’s grandson Alex, who brought home a guinea pig. According to Smothermon, Alex had fallen into a fire as a child and experienced health problems that made him reluctant to interact with most animals. When he was around 12, he discovered that guinea pigs were animals he could safely interact with. His attachment to them eventually led the family to start taking in guinea pigs that had been abandoned or whose owners could no longer care for them. What started as a small family effort gradually became a much larger rescue operation.
Image: AP
A devastating fire changed everything
The family initially ran the rescue from their home in New Hampshire. In 2019, a fatal house fire destroyed the property and killed one of Smothermon’s grandsons, two dogs and dozens of guinea pigs. The tragedy left Smothermon devastated and plunged her into depression. Yet even while the family was living in a hotel and trying to find somewhere else to live, people continued bringing guinea pigs that needed help. The ongoing need eventually gave Smothermon and her family a reason to continue the rescue and pursue Alex’s original dream of helping the animals.The sanctuary regularly receives guinea pigs from people whose circumstances have changed. In one case described by the Associated Press, an older woman arrived with two cages after her husband became sick. She told Smothermon that she could no longer properly care for both her husband and her guinea pigs. Smothermon hugged the woman and waived the usual surrender fee. The sanctuary also receives calls from outside Massachusetts, including requests involving large groups of guinea pigs from states such as Illinois, Texas and New York. Some cases involve animals that may already be pregnant, creating an even greater burden for rescuers.
Guinea pigs need more care than many owners expect
Although guinea pigs are small, they are not necessarily easy pets to look after. They need appropriate housing, regular cleaning, hay, fresh vegetables, pellets, exercise and veterinary care. They are also social animals and generally benefit from companionship with other guinea pigs. The Guinea Pig Sanctuary recommends daily playtime and stresses that prospective owners should understand the responsibilities involved before adopting. This can become particularly challenging when several animals are kept together, as their food, housing, cleaning and medical needs quickly add up.Inside the sanctuary, volunteers learn the individual personalities of the animals they care for. Some guinea pigs are outgoing and affectionate, while others are nervous or prefer to keep their distance. AP reported that volunteers describe the animals as sensitive and capable of forming strong bonds with their caretakers. Their distinctive squeals and chirps often become loudest when food arrives. The animals can also recognise the people who care for them and may move towards their preferred caretakers.
A rescue operation that never seems to stop
For Smothermon, caring for hundreds of guinea pigs is a demanding responsibility. She says she gets only a handful of days off each year because the animals need food and care every day. The sanctuary also depends heavily on volunteers and donations to cover food, bedding, cleaning supplies and veterinary treatment. Its work extends beyond the main Salisbury facility through foster and hospice homes, adoption efforts and rehoming support. The organisation says it aims to provide a safe place for guinea pigs whose owners can no longer care for them.
Why the sanctuary keeps going
Smothermon has described the responsibility as both exhausting and rewarding. The sheer number of animals means there is little opportunity to simply walk away. Yet the rescue also gives her a sense of purpose. After the devastating fire destroyed her home and took the life of her grandson and many of the animals she had cared for, continuing the work became a way to carry forward the family’s mission. Today, the sanctuary remains a refuge for guinea pigs that might otherwise have nowhere to go, with hundreds depending on the people who care for them every day.